The country’s premier multilingual digital news platform, Network18, is launching the ‘Netra Suraksha: India Against Diabetes’ campaign on November 27 to create awareness about risks of eye disorders due to diabetes and to motivate diabetic patients to get their eyes tested regularly.

According to ANI, one in six people with diabetes in the world is from India.

A survey conducted in 21 districts in the country by AIIMS, University of Hyderabad, and the National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment, revealed that as many as 17 percent of diabetes patients suffer from retinopathy.

The initiative is being launched in partnership with Novartis India. The launch session will have health experts as panellists, with conversations focusing on detection, timely prevention and treatments of diabetes and diabetic eye diseases.

Commenting on the campaign, Puneet Singhvi, CEO-Digital and President, Corporate Strategy, Network18 Group, said, “Network18 has always aimed to create awareness around health, environment, and civic issues to push for a change at policy and behavioural levels. Today, diabetes has become a serious health concern for the country. With the ‘Netra Suraksha’ initiative, we want to encourage and educate diabetic patients to get their eyes tested to prevent any loss the disease may cause to their eyesight.”

Dr. D Raja Narayan, Secretary, VRSI, said, “VRSI appreciates the support of Network18 for spreading the awareness of diabetes and its effects on the eyes. This will benefit many of our patients from becoming blind or visually impaired.”

Dr. Bansi Saboo, President, RSSDI, added, “People often don’t realise the harm diabetes can cause to other organs of the body. I am sure that lakhs of diabetic patients across the country would benefit in terms of knowledge and understanding through the Netra Suraksha initiative.”

“It is heartening to see leading medical experts join this cause. We see this as an important step. However, we can’t do this alone. The patient communities, government, diagnostic companies, healthcare providers and other related stakeholders need to join this cause,” said Sanjay Murdeshwar, Managing Director and Country President, Novartis in India.

The first round table in this initiative will be launched on November 27, 2021.